Establishing a socio-economic policy for the development of East Jerusalem
Establishing a socio-economic policy for the development of East Jerusalem
The studies currently being conducted by the Institute on this subject include the following:
The history of government intervention programs in East Jerusalem between 2013–2019:
A documentation of the political-historical shift that occurred during this period, consisting of an unprecedented process of coherent policy formation and construction of government intervention programs in East Jerusalem. The research will analyze the issues and difficulties encountered along the way and will suggest lessons learned that can be applied to future programs.
The plan for the socio-economic development of East Jerusalem–systems of indicators:
The indicator studies will survey criteria in the areas of education and higher education, economics and employment, and infrastructure. The indicator studies will be conducted once a year throughout the implementation of the government plan (2018-2023) to monitor the developments, trends, and changes in these areas. The systems of indicators will be constructed together with the government program’s operational personnel and with the government, the Jerusalem municipality, and other partners.
The attitude of the East Jerusalem residents toward governmental and municipal services:
With the understanding that this is a complex and multi-faceted relationship, the research asks if differences exist in the positions of the population vis à vis the various authorities (for example, the services of the Ministry of Interior/ Population and Immigration Authority, the National Insurance Institute, HaGihon, education and health systems), and if groups in East Jerusalem vary in their positions (by neighborhood, age, gender, etc.). The research will suggest ways to improve the functioning of various services in East Jerusalem while comparing to similar cases and initiatives that have been applied in Israel and the world.
Promotion of quality employment and expanding the ranks of the employed:
The East Jerusalem men and women currently participating in the workforce earn a relatively low salary. The main reason for this is that they are usually employed in unprofessional work or work part-time. One way to minimize this issue is to emphasize the quality integration of this population in the employment market in order to guarantee a higher income. The goal of this study is to examine the effect of raising the productivity of East Jerusalem residents and to recommend policy tools for promoting quality employment as an engine for improving the economic situation of this populace. The study suggests mapping and examining the various resources directed to this issue and evaluating their ROI; such resources include the programs, policy tools, and incentives directed at promoting employment that are relevant to the East Jerusalem populace. In addition, the study will examine the existing employment opportunities in Western Jerusalem and other places and the barriers in the way of the quality integration of this population in the labor market. Finally, policy tools for the removal of barriers and addressing the need for quality integration that guarantees adequate income will be formulated.
Social mobility index:
The index will track the various trends and changes in the social and economic status of the residents of East Jerusalem. The index is constructed in accordance with other social mobility indexes around the world and includes data regarding education and higher education (e.g., accessibility to quality education, years of education, certifications, professional training), welfare (e.g., personal status, poverty, housing, expenditure on culture and leisure), and employment (e.g., occupation, income, professional status). The development of the index includes gathering and analyzing data from various sources, conducting focus groups and interviews, expert consultations, and more. For the purpose of constructing this index, an academic steering committee will be established composed of experts on social mobility, East Jerusalem, index construction, and other relevant fields. After a year of theoretical development and data gathering, the frequency of implementing the index will be determined together with the expert committee. Notably, the index is not intended to indicate a direct relationship between political activities in East Jerusalem and changes in the socio-economic status of its residents, rather, the index is meant to monitor changes and trends.
Consumption habits of East Jerusalem residents:
With the aim of investing in the development of commercial centers in East Jerusalem, a review of the literature concerning various user surveys of the area’s residents is being conducted and the surveys analyzed. The conclusions of this review will be used by the researchers to construct an updated questionnaire for East Jerusalem residents and will enable arriving at an informed decision concerning the areas and types of commerce that are most worthy and profitable for development.
Mapping the cultural institutions and activities in East Jerusalem:
This study deals with the mapping of the cultural institutions in the East Jerusalem central business district and in analyzing the existing cultural consumption habits and locating prominent gaps in service. This is accomplished through in-depth research among the residents of two relevant neighborhoods.